UW Band's Leckrone to speak; Mentzer honored at local alumni event

University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni in the Fond du Lac area will celebrate the founding of the university, highlighted by a presentation by Professor of Music and Director of Bands Mike Leckrone on Wednesday, April 24.

Professor Leckrone will be the keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Alumni Association: Fond du Lac Chapter Founders' Day event. There he will be sharing stories about the University of Wisconsin Marching Band and his experiences during his time at UW-Madison.

In addition to the presentation by Professor Leckrone, Michael Mentzer will be honored as the 2013 Badger of the Year. Mentzer is a 1972 graduate of UW-Madison, and has recently retired from The Fond du Lac Reporter after nearly 40 years of service to the Fond du Lac community. The Class of 2013 scholarship recipients will also be recognized at this event.

The Founders' Day event will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m., at Whispering Springs Golf Club, 380 Whispering Springs Drive, Fond du Lac. To register, or for more details, visit uwalumni.com/fonddulac; or contact chapter president Steve Leaman at 979-1762.

Founders' Day is presented in cities nationwide by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, a nonprofit organization, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

These events are hosted annually by UW-Madison alumni chapters to bring the latest in University of Wisconsin research to alumni in their hometowns, raise funds for student scholarships and celebrate the founding of the university. Proceeds from the Wisconsin Alumni Association: Fond du Lac Chapter Founders' Day event will benefit the chapter's local scholarship fund.

Participation and membership in the Wisconsin Alumni Association and its chapters are open to all alumni, students and friends of UW-Madison. Learn more at uwalumni.com.